Mobile robotic device having quick-release dust-collecting box

ABSTRACT

A mobile robotic device includes a frame body having a receiving recession recessed inward therefrom and a guide pusher formed thereon and extending toward the receiving recession and having a bevel formed at its one side; a dust-collecting box detachably mounted in the receiving recession and having an opening formed at one side thereof and an indentation formed at the same side as the opening for receiving the guide pusher while the dust-collecting box is inserted into the receiving recession; and a sealing member pivotably mounted to the dust-collecting box to seal the opening. Accordingly, while the dust-collecting box is drawn from the receiving recession, the sealing member can seal the opening to prevent the dust from escaping from the dust-collecting box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to mobile robotic devices, and more particularly, to a mobile robotic device having a quick-release dust-collecting box.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional mobile robotic dust collector is composed of a mobile robotic device and a dust-collecting box mounted inside the mobile robotic device. The dust-collecting box includes an opening and a filter screen. The opening is formed at one side of the dust-collecting box for entrance of the dust into the dust-collecting box. The filter screen is mounted at the opposite side of the dust-collecting box for filtering the dust.

However, the conventional mobile robotic dust collector still has the following drawbacks in need of improvement. First, the opening of the dust-collecting box is not sealed, and after the dust-collecting box is removed from mobile robotic device, the dust which has been sucked into the dust-collecting box tends to escape out of the opening. Second, the opening fails to be sealed or opened after the dust-collecting box is removed from or installed into the mobile robotic device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a mobile robotic device having a quick-release dust-collecting box, which can remove/install the dust-collecting box quickly and prevent the dust from escaping from the box while the box is removed/installed.

The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a mobile robotic device having a quick-release dust-collecting box which opening can be sealed/opened while the box is removed/installed.

The foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by the mobile robotic device composed of a frame body, a dust-collecting box, and a sealing member. The frame body includes an insertion hole formed at one side thereof, a receiving recession recessed inward therefrom for receiving the dust-collecting box, and a guide pusher formed thereon and extending toward the receiving recession and having a bevel formed at its one side. The dust-collecting box is detachably mounted in the receiving recession and can be inserted through the insertion hole into the receiving recession, having a receiving chamber formed therein, an opening formed at one side thereof and in communication with the receiving chamber, and an indentation formed at the same side as the opening for receiving the guide pusher while the dust-collecting box is inserted into the receiving recession. The sealing member is pivotably mounted to the dust-collecting box to seal the opening, having a lateral edge corresponding to the indentation. Accordingly, while the dust-collecting box is inserted into the receiving recession, the guide pusher enters the indentation and then the bevel of the guide pusher contacts against and works on the lateral edge of the sealing member. As the dust-collecting box is inserted further into the receiving recession, the bevel works greater and greater to push the lateral edge of the sealing member and to enable the sealing member to pivot inward, such that the sealing member stop sealing the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dust-collecting box of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dust-collecting box of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the status that the collapsible plate is not collapsed.

FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the status that the collapsible plate is collapsed.

FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mobile robotic device having a quick-release dust-collecting box, constructed according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, is composed of a frame body 10, a dust-collecting box 20, and a sealing member 30.

The frame body 10 includes an insertion hole 12 formed at one side thereof, a receiving recession 14 recessed inward therefrom for receiving the dust-collecting box, and a guide pusher 16 mounted to the frame body 10 and located at one side in the receiving recession 14. The guide pusher 16 has a bevel 18 formed at one side thereof for contacting against and working on the sealing member 30.

The dust-collecting box 20 is detachably mounted in the receiving recession 14 and can be inserted through the insertion hole 12 into the receiving recession 14. The dust-collecting box 20 includes a receiving chamber 22 formed therein, an opening 24 formed at one side thereof and in communication with the receiving chamber 22, an indentation formed at the same side as the opening and close to the opening for receiving the guide pusher 16, and two pivot cavities 28 formed at two ends of a top side of the opening 24 respectively for pivotable connection with the sealing member 30.

The sealing member 30 is defined as a plate 32, having two pivot bolts 36 mounted to two ends of a top side thereof and pivotably connected with the two pivot cavities 28, and thus the sealing member 30 is pivotably mounted to and seal the opening 24. The sealing member 30 includes a lateral edge corresponding to the indentation 26 for contacting against by the guide pusher 16 working thereon for pivoting movement.

While the dust-collecting box 20 is inserted into the receiving recession 14, the guide pusher 16 enters the indentation 26 and then the bevel 18 contacts against the lateral edge of the sealing member 30. As the dust-collecting box 20 is inserted further into the receiving recession 14, the bevel 18 works greater and greater to push the plate 32 to pivot toward the receiving chamber 22 of the dust-collecting box 20, and thus the opening 24 is not sealed by the sealing member 30. While the dust-collecting box 20 is drawn from the frame body 10, the plate 32 pivots outward to seal the opening 24.

Referring to FIGS. 3-7, a mobile robotic device having a quick-release dust-collecting box, constructed according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, is similar to the aforementioned embodiment but different as recited next. The dust-collecting box 20 further includes a slide rail 29 formed at one side of the opening 24. The sealing member 30 is defined as a collapsible plate 34 composed of two (upper and lower) plate pieces 32 hinged with each other to seal the opening 24, further having two sliders 38 formed at two ends of the opposite side thereof to the two pivot bolts 36 respectively and slidably mounted to the slide rail 29.

As the dust-collecting box 20 is inserted further into the frame body 10, the bevel 18 works greater and greater to push the upper plate piece 32 to pivot inward to drive the lower plate piece 32 to pivot inward and slidably move upward along the slide rail 29. While the dust-collecting box 20 is drawn from the frame body 10, the upper plate piece 32 pivots outward to drive the lower plate piece 32 to pivot outward and slidably move downward until the collapsible plate 34 seals the opening 24.

In conclusion, the present invention employs the sealing member to prevent the dust from escaping from the dust-collecting box 20 while the dust-collecting box 20 is removed from the frame body. 

1. A mobile robotic device having a quick-release dust-collecting box, comprising: a frame body having an insertion hole formed at a side thereof, a receiving recession recessed inward, a guide pusher mounted to said frame body and located in said receiving recession, and a bevel formed at a side of said guide pusher; a dust-collecting box detachably mounted in said receiving recession and having a receiving chamber formed therein, an opening formed at a side thereof and in communication with said receiving chamber, and an indentation formed at a side thereof for receiving said guide pusher while said dust-collecting box is inserted into said receiving recession; and a sealing member pivotably mounted to said dust-collecting box and seal said opening and having a lateral edge corresponds to said indentation; whereby while said dust-collecting box is inserted into or drawn from said receiving recession through said insertion hole, said guide pusher enters or exits said indentation and said bevel contacts against and works on said lateral edge of said sealing member to enable said sealing member to pivot toward or against said receiving chamber of said dust-collecting box to further unseal/seal said opening.
 2. The mobile robotic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said dust-collecting box comprises two pivot cavities formed at two ends of a top side thereof; said sealing member comprises two pivot bolts formed at two ends of a top side thereof and pivotably connected with said two pivot cavities respectively for pivoting movement of said sealing member.
 3. The mobile robotic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing member is a plate for pivoting movement driven by said guide pusher.
 4. The mobile robotic device as defined in claim 3, wherein said sealing member is a collapsible plate having two plate pieces for collapsibly sealing said opening of said dust-collecting box.
 5. The mobile robotic device as defined in claim 4, wherein said collapsible plate further comprises at least one slider formed at a side opposite to where said pivot bolts are located, and said dust-collecting box further comprises a slide rail formed at a side of said opening for slidable movement of said slider. 